Tire chain



Aug. 19 1924. 1,505,635

M J. FRAMcl-l TIRE CHAIN Filed Sent. 13, 1923 gwuwvoz: Md. FRHMBHCH,

atto: vw L),

Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

MATHEW :1.v rnAMBAoi-r, QEHARTLEY, Iowa.

TIRE CHAIN.

Application led September 13, 1923.` SeralfNlo. 662,475.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MATHEW J. VFRAM- nAcH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartley, in the county of OBrien and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire Chains; and I do hereby declare the followingy to kbe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates .to chains or non-skid devices for use upon the tires 'of vehicle wheels, for 'enhancing the traction and preventing slipping, and an object yof the invention is the provision of such atire chain having links of novel andimproved form in the longitudinal side retaining chains for the connection of the cross or tread chains, in order to afford a convenient assemblage of the links, to prevent the tangling thereof when handled or stored, and to prevent the links from opening up oi.- pulling apart when the tire chain is subjected to considerable strain.

Another object is the formationvof the connecting links of ,the Vlongitudinal and cross chains in such ya manner as `notto chafe or injure the sidewalls of thejtire, and also in order not to be opened up or injured by the rubbing of the linksl against a curb or other object when the wheel-moves close to such curb or object.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of'parts, as hereinafter describedand claimed, it being understood that changes can be madek Within the scope of what is claimed, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- A f Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation vshowing a portion of the chain on a tire.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the improved connecting links.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the improved link.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

The present tire chain is similar, in general respects, to tire chains which are being used extensively, and consists, briefly stated, in a pair of longitudinal` side retaining chains to be disposed at the opposite sides of the tire, and cross or transverse tread chains connected to the longitudinal chains to extend across the tire.

In carryingk out the invention,r the links 6 of the longitudinal chains, to. whichthe vcross, chainsy are connected, are of special formation. Each link Gis bent from a rod or length of stouty wire, and the link hasan intermediate portion 7 which is preferably curved slightly. The portion 7 extends substantially longitudinally of the longitudinal or side chain, and the wire is bent back rat the ends of the portions 7v to provide the loops 8.from which the corresponding arms or portions 9 and l0 extend. The arms or portions 9 and 10 extend from the loops 8 toward andclose to the central portion` of f the portion 7 andsaid arms arezthen curved or bent'away from the portieriv 7, and'cross one another close to the portion 7 where the arms are ybent or curved away from the portion 7.y 1 The arms 9 and 10, beyond the point of crossing, are disposed side by side, f

and the terminals of the arms 9 and 10 are the terminals of the yrod or lwire and are bent back outwardly to form the hooks l1. The side of the link 6 which bears against the side wall of the tire is preferably curved, as seen in Fig. 3, to iit the tire, andthe hooks 11 are'disposed at that side of the link opposite to the side which bears against the' tire.` The arm 10, corresponding loop 8 and portion 'are'iush with the side of the linkwhich bears against the tire, and the terminals ofthe arms 9-and l0 adjacent to the hooks 11 are also Hush with one another. The arm or portion 9 and corresponding loop 8 are .bent or offset, with a gentle curvature, between the hooks l1 and correspondipg end'of the portion 7, so that the armor portion Qcank cross the arm lO on the outer side opposite to the side of the link which ybears against the tire, without anyy abrupt or sharp bends in the wire or rod. p The portion 7,-1oops 8, arm or portion l0 and terminal portion of the arm 9 are thus flush with the surface of the link that bears against the tire, and the arm 9 crosses the arm 10 without presenting bends to the tire casing which would be apt to gouge into or chafe the tire.

The alternate links l2 of each longitudinal or side chain, as shown in Fig. l, have their end portions engaging the loops 8 of the links 6, and the links 12 may be of any suitable kind. The links of each longitudinal chain are irst assembled, the links l2 being slipped` on the terminals of thelinks 6 and'slid into position in the loops 8, by springing the arms 9 and 10 apart. vThe arms 9 and 10 being pressed or dentedtoward and adjacent to the portion 7 of each link`6, will close the throats of the loops 8, whereby the links 12 are retained. in said loops, to prevent the tangling of the chain or the disarrangement of the links.

rThe terminal links of the cross chains 16 are readily engaged with pairs of hooks 11, which are disposed side by side, andthe hooks 11 are then bent toward the arms 9 and 10. vThe terminals of the hooks 11 are spread apart'to bear against the opposite sides of the arms 9 and 10, as seen in Figs 1 and 2, whereby said hooks will not be opened up'faccidentally by the scraping or rubbing of the links 6 Yagainstl a curb or other ob'- ject adjacent to which the Wheel moves. The lhooks`11 are thus closed and the terminals thereof brought to the opposite sides of the arms 9 and 10 in order to protect the hooks.

Owing to the crossing ot the portions or arms 9 'and 10, it willbe noted that the termina-l hooks 11in bearing against one another will resist any tendency for the link 6 to be pulled open by the tensile strain on the longitudinal chain. Such tensile strain on the chain would have a tendency to separate the arms 9 land 10, but said arms being crossed and having their terminals overlapped will cause tlreytea-A minals tobear more tightly together the greater the strain is. y

The links 6 can also oscillate in the planes thereof when the chains 16 come into and move out o't engagement with'the road or pave-ment, for the creeping of the chain around the tire, and such oscillation of the connecting links 6 will facilitate the creeping action of the chain around the tire.` `The links 6 are of substantially T-shape with the loops 8 at theends of the head and the hooks 11 at the end of the shank or trunk. Should the links` 6 be out of alinement on the wheehthey will adjusatheinf selves, by the Ypulling action von the crossI chains or members 16 on the tread or face of the tirefwhen engaging the ground. linl vother words, the cross chains or members 16 1n engaging the ground during the rotation of the wheel will create a pull on the links 6, which will straighten out said links should they be out of alinement.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed `as new is i 1. A chain link having an intermediate portion, loops at the ends of said portion tor the engagement of other links, arms eX- tending rom said loops and away from said intermediate portion, and hooks at the ter minals of the arms to bear against one another side by side, said hooks having terminals spread apart and .bent to opposite sidesof said arms. A

k2. Ar chain link having an intermediate portion, loops at the ends of said portion for the engagement of other links, arms extending from said loops, said arms cross ing one another and extending beyond the point of crossing away from said intermediate portion, and hooks at the terminals osaid arms to' bear together side by side, the Vterminals of the hooks being spread apart and bent to the opposite sides of said arms. t f I Y 3. A chain link to Vbear at one side against a tire'and having an intermediate portion, loops at theends of said portion tor t-he engagement of'other links, arms extending from said loops and having bends crossing one another adjacent to said intermediate portion, said arms beingV disposed side by side beyond the point of crossing and eX- tending away from said intermediate portion, and hooks at the terminals of said arms to be disposed side by side, said hooks being locatedv at the side of the link opposite to the tirstnamed side, said intermediate portion, loopsl and one of the arms being flush with the tirstnamed side of the link to bear against the tire, and the otherarm being oiset with a gentle curvature between the hooks and corresponding loop away from the iirstnamed side of the link across the aforesaid arm. y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

-MATHEW J. FRAMBACH. 

